‘Songs help develop virtues’

Songs can be used to develop virtues and create a righteous society. Conducting singing programmes at school level is a timely need that will create a virtuous younger generation, MP Malani Fonseka said.

She said so participating as chief guest in the Rasa Gee Dehena programme on January 5 at the National School Auditorium.

Rasa Gee Dehena was organized by the Kumarasiri Hettige Foundation to encourage schoolchildren and the public to engage in proper appreciation of songs through the interpretation of classic songs.

MP Fonseka said people lack virtues nowadays.

She said it is evident that programmes of this nature to appreciate songs are required for schools throughout the country.

“It is clear that the Kumarasiri Hettige Foundation is sensible in implementing meaningful programmes,” she added.

She said the effort made by the Foundation to create better humans beings in addition to many other social welfare services rendered by them, is an example to all.

Presidential Secretary on Parliamentary Affairs Kumarasiri Hettige said beasts and men are no different if men are immature and have confused minds. “If they stoop to a beast’s level, the detrimental effects on society are immense,” he said.

“We need a peaceful society. In order to live in peace and harmony, the hearts of the people should be nourished with virtues,” he said.

Thirty years of terrorism is no more and a peaceful and beautiful society is created with the death of Prabhakaran. Although President Mahinda Rajapaksa freed our country, we are yet to face a number of challenges if we are to live in this country. The main challenge is to create a society of people with virtues, he added.

He said, indicating fast economic growth, sky scrapers are being built and the country is taking a rapid journey towards physical development. However, feelings of hatred, anger and jealousy have corrupted the minds of some people. Actions of certain persons who occupy responsible positions seem to create unrest in the country, he said.

Some people who live among us in society do not know the value of human life. We must all come forward to create virtuous minds, he said.

“Indian philosopher Bharthu Hari stated in Neethi Shathaka that ‘man without music is like an animal’. An animal does not have virtues. They are impulsive. The wise will spend their life associating poetry and intelligence. Those who are ignorant create problems in society by committing felonies and misbehaving with aggressive feelings,” he said.

If we are to build a humane society, our young generation must be introduced to meaningful music. Rasa Gee Dehena was initiated with the intention of creating a generation that has a rich taste in the arts. It received the blessings of many individuals. There is no discipline when rich taste and adherence to religion is non existent and neither will there be a future.

The feeling of spiritual well-being and discipline brought about by appreciating cultured and sentimental songs is supreme. Our children should be directed towards this course, he pointed out.

A compilation of poetry titled Minisathbawa Saha Miniskama written by former Additional Provincial Education Director A G Ariyasena was presented to Kumarasiri Hettige by the author.